While looking for 2D barcode (qrcode version) software for mobile phones that I could use for my txtu.com site, I found several of guys who has started a project to create a 2D barcode scanner software for mobile phones using mobile Java or J2ME.

The software is called Zebra Crossing or Zxing (as they call it) is at an early stage of it’s development but they already have a working version available for download. Supported mobile phones are currently limited but I have gotten it to scan barcodes off my txtu.com site.

With a lot of mobile phones having a camera nowadays, I believe that 2D bar codes will become even more and more popular because of its potential use.

For instance, I use 2D bar codes at txtu.com to allow visitors to my site to scan a “Text Message of the Day” (TMOTD) so that they won’t have to type it on their mobile phones and just send the message to a friend straight away. I’m planning to expand it’s use even here at javamidlet.com so that site visitors can scan and save URL’s on their mobile phones.

Other uses I can think of include scanning prices in grocery stores, creating secured electronic tickets or mobile payment receipts, store coupons, posting encoded messages on the web that only authorized recipients can read.

If you’re interested in the Zebra Crossing 2D bar code project, you can visit their web site here.

You can read more about the QRcode 2D bar code at wikipedia here.